Day Books

An absolutly great book! The text is lyrical making it easy to read over and over again. The illustrations are colorful and fun. With each reading, your child (and you) will notice more fantastic details. The antics are zany, but Harriet's feelings are real and ones we can all relate to. This book will quickly become a family favorite!

Harriet's Horrible Hair Day is not only for the young girl whose hair won't behave, it's for the young boy who can't get that unruly cowlick to stay down. When Harriet's cinnamon-colored curl pops out of her braid, her brother is quick to tell her she looks weird. This single remark sets into motion a series of remedies that her siblings apply. Their antics are somewhat reminiscent of Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat". Creative, wild, and crazy, the cure is worse than the curl. As illustrated in the following text, Harriet's siblings are determined: "Harriet's sister plopped a colandar on Harriet's head, and her brother pulled the curls through the holes." Ms. Stewart's amusingly phonetic text will please all children, and Michael P. White's appropiate illustrations will catch their eyes. Without a doubt, this is a book a child will clutch close to his or her chest. No wonder it has sold out at our local bookstore.

A delightful story, complete with detail-rich, amazingly fun illustrations, makes this book a sure hit with children, and their parents. I can't wait for more releases from Ms. Stewart!

Every child with hair that won't behave or who has siblings that are too helpful, will delight in reading the trials put upon Harriet by her brother and sister all because of a wayward curl! The vocabulary is age appropriate and the illustrations are delightful.

Kindergarten to fifth graders enjoyed this wild tale. I am an elementary school librarian and my students loved this story and its zany illustrations. They couldn't wait to see what Harriet's creative siblings had in store for her on every page. They also loved watching the dog's and cat's antics throughout the book. As we say in Texas..."This book is a hoot!"

I make about 2 trips to Phoenix every year and this book has been great for finding fun hikes for my family. Cosmic Ray has many great tips and accurate descriptions of every trail that we have hiked. This book has made my family's trips to Phoenix so much more enjoyable. I highly recommend it if you plan any hikes in the Phoenix area.

I have both hiking books--Best of Phoenix and Best of Flagstaff/Sedona. In fact, I am on my second copy of both as I have lent my first Phoenix copy to a friend (it disappeared) and wore out the first copy of my the Flagstaff/Sedona book. The maps are easy to follow and the topographical maps are awesome. Whenever I go hiking, I have two little girls (ages 1 and 4) in tow, so it is necessary to know the terrain inside and out before ever leaving home... Cosmic Ray is so detailed and so accurate that I never worry about being misinformed. Buy a copy for yourself and buy one for a friend... That way yours won't go missing!

We live near Casa Grande, Arizona. We just purchased Hiking Phoenix and used it hiking at Lost Dutchman State Park in The Superstition Mountains. We love the humor as well as the wonderful maps. Also, we love the cactus identification.

I recently moved out here from the UK to Arizona. I was whining to my father (when he was visiting) that a lot of people had told me there's nowhere to go hiking around Phoenix and I was finding that hard to believe given how much open space there is around Phoenix.
Anyway, we were in a book shop when he pointed out this book. I bought it instantly and have so far enjoyed five of this guide's hikes . . . and have found some beautiful places thank's to Ray's help. I just wanted to thank the author for making me realise that not all of this country is owned and fenced off and there are some places you can go where you feel as if you're walking where no one else has! Great book.

Ray's description and map of the hike at Pinnacle Peak is very accurate. Telling folks that dogs are not allowed, when flowers bloom and especially staying on the trail are great reminders for people. Ray has taken the time to obtain updated information. It is a great guide and we are using our copy constantly at Pinnacle Peak Park as hikers ask questions about other hikes in the area. Thanks for including Pinnacle Peak and the excellent write up on this area.

Great heartwarming story for a parent and child to read together. I have a little girl and she loves the story. A must read for all children!

this terrific book shows how much fun hockey - or any sports, for that matter - can be as a way for families to remain close to each other. a very fun read!

In a world where children are exposed to video games and violence, finally a wonderful and heartwarming book to read with your child. Fathers and sons alike will love every page of this book!
Lori Black

Hockey Days is a top of the line "feel-good" book for any hockey lover. Even if you're not into hockey you will enjoy the heartfelt tale that resonates love & laughter for fathers and sons.

This tale brought back memories of childhood friends and stories I have shared with my daughter about my childhood sports memories.

It's a great book to share with your children and it will get them interested in hockey too. It also tells a warm story of a father and son who relive the father's "glory days" and lead the son to believe his father is "pretty cool" after all.

I highly recommend this book to any and all. Hockey fan or not, you'll Love "Hockey Days".

What a wonderful story. Howard brings me back to my youth and what playing hockey means and how it intertwines a family's lifetime! Great job, great book! Thanks, Rich O.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! All right, so the author went to Princeton, where he played on the basketball team. We won't hold that against him, especially since the team he played on almost beat #1UCLA in the NCAA's(lost by a point.) Perhaps that near victory prepared him for life as a Hollywood screenwriter, where he suffers the "plight of intermittent reinforcement": every once in a while he'll get a rat's pellet of reward, just enough to keep him "bashing his head into a cinder-block wall."

See the way I'm quoting the author? This is the kind of book where you underline all the time. (Mine is NOT a library copy, I own it.) Some samples:
Comparing how men and women cross a dance floor differently when they're drunk. A man will "do these flanking motions, like a sailboat tacking upwind, stumbling left...then heading back right, like you improve your odds of finding your destination by covering more territory somehow..." A woman will cross "like she's on a mission, walking that straight line.. putting one foot in front of the other, steps short and quick, knowing as long as she keeps leaning forward and staying focused she's gonna finally get there."
Or his example of "due diligence:" "When people are young, they sleep together before getting married to find out how good the sex is gonna be. Second time around, it's to find out how bad's the snoring. Due diligence."
Quoting a teacher friend of his: "Moviemaking is the slow disintegration of a good idea."
Quoting another friend's mother: "Closed mouths don't get fed."
Quoting a doctor on why his friend developed a lump in his scrotum (non-malignant--this book is for laughs, not for downers): "Forget firefighters, forget steelworkers. Writing's the worst--high stress, constant rejection, alcoholism, drug abuse, heart disease, phlebitis, self-contempt, you name it, plus you sit around on your balls all day."

Part of the book is based on columns the author wrote for espn.com. That means he writes short, snappy chapters, which make it an easy read. He also puts in web addresses that will help writers and others with their work. And he's not afraid to personalize the book, be it his relationship with his wife (Where did he find such an angel?!), his sons, or his genuine feelings about our troops in Iraq (sadly, though the book chronicles the year 2005, the troops are still there.) But mainly it's funny. Who knew watching some other guy face constant rejection could be so entertaining?

Finally, Ryder actually had me hooked so much that I HAD TO KNOW what happened to the one screenplay he finally managed to sell. What's the exciting climax? I won't tell you, because you'll have such a great time finding out yourself. You'll also learn a whole lot about the in's and out's of the screen trade, viewed through the lens of a sports consultant, but, most enjoyably, as seen through the eyes of a sensitive, funny, compassionate writer who's been there, done that. If you're anything like me, once you've finished this book, you'll quickly give it to someone you care about so they can love it, too.

Hollywood Jock is an easy read, filled with the amusing adventures that Ryder has encountered in his quest to write screenplays of interest in Hollywood. Anyone even remotely interested in sports and show business will find the book entertaining and funny. This book seems like a natural premise for a TV sitcom. Maybe Ryder will get lucky and HBO will agree.

This book is a gem!

HOLLYWOOD JOCK should be mandatory reading in every college Screenwriting class. Every starry-eyed writer heading to Los Angeles needs to know what to expect, and Rob Ryder's experience is what so many LA scriptwriters confront. Had I read Ryder's eloquent book before spending my dozen years in Hollywood, I would at least have been prepared for the experience.

What's most instructive is that Ryder has such a masterful command of both story and prose -- and deep insight into sport. His so his insider story of how Hollywood actually works at the script level helps explain why we see so few quality studio films.

But most of all, HOLLYWOOD JOCK is simply a crackling great read, whether or not you plan to be a Hollywood writer. It's the real deal about Hollywood, and it's about time someone told that story and so well. Kudos to Rob Ryder!

Hollywood Jock is the kind of book that needed to be written. Most other books are by better known screenwriters that only highlight the ups of their careers, while Hollywood Jock reviews it all. At times you just wish someone would drop some money into his lap to see what he can do, and by the end you're surfing the net finding out what he's up to now. If you're intrested in movies and the people behind the camera, pick up this book. If you don't care at all, still, read this book. The stories alone are worth the read.

If "Hollywood Jock" were a movie, the log line would run: "A sports-mad writer gets a shot at redemption when his wife gives him a year to sell a project to Hollywood."

This book collects the 34 "Hollywood Jock" columns written wrote for ESPN.com, and another 19 that continues the story of Rob Ryder, Hollywood Hustler. We follow him as he tries to sell anyone he can get ahold of on the merits of scripts such as "Zulu Wave," about a black surfer in apartheid-era South Africa, "94 Feet of Hell" that takes you inside a fictional college basketball game; and businesses such as a 4-on-4 summer pro basketball league. He's calls on agents for pro athletes who want to get into producing, directors he has worked with (such as Rob Shelton, who directed "Bull Durham" and "Tin Cup"), production companies, money managers, agents, anyone who knows anyone with two cents to rub together who might be able to get a movie launched.

When he's telling his war stories, Ryder is a genial companion, and you can sympathize with his struggles to get his projects off the ground.

But "Hollywood Jock" is also a mess, a shapeless diary that's as chaotic as the way Hollywood puts together movies. The "wife gives him a year to make good" conceit holds no drama or emotion -- and once he loses his paying gig at ESPN.com, the chapters move away from the look at Hollywood and pro sports and becomes a recitation of e-mails, meetings, appointments and cancellations, writing sessions and what Elmore Leonard would call stuff readers would skip over.

If you can handle that, "Hollywood Jock" is a good example of how Hollywood works and how it doesn't.

Jane Kirkpatrick does not abandon her characteristic figures of speech and writing that touches the soul for this nonfiction book. She tells the story of homesteading on Starvation Point, a remote area along the John Day River in Oregon, where life acquires new significance and she realizes her dream of becoming a writer. This book gives evidence that a person's writing comes from his or her life, the experiences and people encountered on the journey of life. Throughout this book one can find the origin of many events and characters in Jane's novels. Her memoir is a well-written story that gives insight into the pursuit of dreams.

This was an excellent book! very good reading and would be appropriate for anyone. Good story and I loving knowing it is all something that happened!

This was the first book By Jane that I read. I was so impressed with her story and her writing that I immediately went out and bought her next trilogy. Upon reading the first of those books which I found as interesting, entertaining and historically accurate that I immediately went and bought every book she has ever written and am waiting for the next one.

This from a reader that doesn't read frilly stuff. It has to have substance and thought and be presented in a way that can keep you awake after a hard day of overtime.

Judy Burnett
Salt Lake City

Not many people would have the courage to take on what Jane and Jerry do, as chronicled in Homestead by Jane Kirkpatrick. Whether it's shooting rattlesnakes or handling dog seizures, surviving a plane crash or navigating a treacherous road, chasing down run away calves or protecting watermelons from the onslaught of deer, the Kirkpatrick's seem to have faced and conquered it all. Such stories usually make for great fiction. The most startling realization, however, is that this story is real.

Jane recalls everything from the beginning, in this memoir of personal struggle and ultimate triumph. To move to an unbroken land and settle into its rhythms, to find a home among the wilds was a dream that she and her husband shared. More often than not, however, it seemed that this dream was as unmanageable as the road they had to travel just to get there. Everything kept going wrong. From broken machinery to tragedies of a larger scale, the Kirkpatricks found that these events kept drawing them closer to one another. For Jane, the call was to "go to the land and write." And write she did; not only this memoir, but nine novels as well. Settling the land was an adventure and a risk neither of them now regret making.

The book was well written with enough action and personal perspective to keep a reader interested. One can not help but feel Jane's concerns as she watches her husband's vehicle slip desperately close to a cliff edge, as she tries to reach out in the best way she knows how while feeling so inadequate. It isn't within herself or her husband that Mrs. Kirkpatrick finds the strength to carry on. That's the kind of strength she only finds in Christ.

Broken into four parts, the book reads quickly and leaves the reader feeling rejuvenated and wondering, "How on earth did these two manage to do this?" Homestead is a book that challenges while it encourages. It challenges the reader to grasp every day and turn it into something memorable; it encourages to keep eyes focused on the dream, whatever it may be, even when getting to it is tough. This is a good and memorable book for all ages. - Lauren Steigerwald, Christian Book Previews.com

Jane Kirkpatrick's writing carries with it the spirit of the pioneers. "Homestead" chronicles the Kirkpatricks' effort as a married couple to carve out a living from the dry, hard soil of eastern Oregon. They rough it as they go along, working toward a suitable well, a home with an actual foundation, and a road that doesn't rattle their teeth from their jaws.

A fitting testimony to the stubborn stamina and ingenuity of modern pioneers--and a bracing reminder of what our forbears went through--this book is also a heartwarming look into the meaning of family, faith, and friendship. Jane's love of life shines through every chapter, and yet there is no glossing over the troubles, large or small. This is an honest account of the price one pays to pave his or her own way.

While straightforward and economical, "Homestead" is a book that breathes with the fires of imagination and good humor. Jane's writing qualifies this story as a modern masterpiece. My wife and I read some of the chapters aloud to one another, and at a few points we were laughing to the point of tears; at others, we were moved to prayers of thankfulness for our creature comforts and to quiet hugs of love. This is a book for all to enjoy, and one that'll be read for years to come.

This is an awesome book written by two awesome people of God. The Eagans clearly explain the process of going from wandering, wondering, confusion, frustration and depression to knowing, understanding, accepting and fulfilling the plan of God for YOUR life. There are plenty of exercises, "prayerful reflections" and useful examples of famous individuals that have found and pursued their purpose. Get this book for yourself. Get it for a friend (Christmas is coming up soon!). If your a parent this book will help you understand and help your children get on their God ordained path. If you can get the workbook too, it has lists of occupations for each of the Motivational Gifts(How you are individually "wired"). Better yet get the complete CD series. Enjoy.

This book is excellent! It is meaningful to me as a Christian and in my walk. As a parent, school volunteer and aunt, the book opens my eye to the gifts of the children in my life.

This is a wonderful book and it is totally a blessing to me and I know it will be a blesiing to anyone and everyone who reads it. This book really opened my heart to see the true meaning that your gifts will make room for you. This book helped me understand my gifts and how to receive and understand other peoples gifts. Thank you Dr. and Minister Eagan, for allowing God to use your in such a mighty way. Just 3 weeks after reading this book I received a call with a job offer that will allow me to work totally in my gifts. By just praying and allowing God to have control a door was opened.

This book was superb! As I read the book and listened to the CDs, I was able to identify my gifts and purpose. Also, I am able to better understand my family, friends and co-workers because I know their gifts. Prior to reading the book, I often questioned my educational background and career path. Now, I know why I majored in Physics and why I love researching things--I possess the teacher motive gift! The Eagans are excellent authors and mentors, and are anointed to teach people the principles of becoming Kingdom Millionaires. So, if you are looking to learn more about your purpose and gifts, then this book is for you!

This is an awesome book series. I have taken the courses and used the books. I was not disappointed. I have discovered my purpose and use the books to review and stay on track as to were I am going. I highly recommend that everyone purchase this book series.

This calendar is a great way to keep positive affirmations in front of you at all times. I buy a new one each year because I cannot imagine being without it!

I bought this for my girlfriend and she says "Each affirmation outlines the impending lesson of the day and is the tool to assist in the learning." She is sitting right beside me and sends her love. :) She loves it.

I ordered Louise's flip Desk Calendar for the first time this year and it is sensational. I want one every year for life. Each day I start the new day with a positive and very inspirational message. There are many calendars out there and this one is tops.

Louise Hay is wonderful at coming up with uplifting and positive affirmations in this calendar. I enjoy and look forward to reading these short thoughts for the day each and every day.

If everyone owned one of these calendars, the world would be a better place.

My son -loves- elephants so it would be hard for this book to be a miss. The illustrations are beautiful.

My 3-year old daughter loves the story so much that she reads it over and over again until she is able to recite. This is an excellent book that helps mommy and child bond. Highly recommended!

My 2 year old and I read this every night. It is a wonderful book and we look forward to it every night.

We have been reading this story to our 2 year old daughter since she was 2 months old and it's still her favorite book. She now recites the words as I flip through the pages - this book has definitely left an impression. Additionally, the pictures are colorful and fun! It's such a sweet story about the fun a mother and child have together, and the special bond the two share. I'm sure your little one will love this story just as much as mine does!

Toddlers and Preschoolers will identify with the little elephant and how he enjoys the mom's company through the different activities of the day. It's a good book to reflect on the blessing of families. Good bedtime story. Beautiful illustrations.

Lauretta Ali--Letting Loose With Lauretta

Daryl is a writer and a lay leader in the Catholic Church. But, what is most profound is that he has the ability to be open regarding all religions. That is why this book is so important. It is based upon major historical black leaders. What makes this book such a delight is that each leader represents a day in an entire year. This means it is like a calendar. By writing in this manner, this book has to be one of the most significant works of our time. I am saying this because we need to give Daryl "his roses while he still can smell them." I am praying that he goes down in history as a major contributor of African American history. Surely we are in the midst of absolute greatness!

The book opens on January 1st and details The Emancipation Proclamation which took place on January 1, 1863. I knew about this historical event. Yet, I could never remember the date. Now it is forever stamped on my memory bank. Round and round people have gone on for years debating whether or not Lincoln freed the slaves. Yet, this author puts greatness where it belongs and that is upon our enslaved brothers and sisters who kept the wind on their backs and the sun in their faces. Daryl, of course, gives God all of the glory that it was the Almighty's hand that provided our ultimate freedom.

W.E.B. Dubois, Nelson Mandela, Ma Rainey, Barbara Jordan, John Coltrane, Angela Davis, Patrice Lumumba, Andrew Young, Tupac Shakur and my personal favorite the Pulitzer Prize winning Gwendolyn Brooks are just a few of the people who the author shines his talented light upon. I can't explain to you enough how important this book is. It should be in every library in every country, everywhere. Better yet, it should be required reading for any African American History class, from elementary school straight through college.

Each day from January 1st through December 31st is an eye opening revelation of leaders who helped to change the world for the better. What is stunning is that there are so many leaders listed from musicians, writers, entertainers to those who gave their very lives in the name of freedom. As a Muslim woman, who believes in the Quran which states I am to love my fellow human beings regardless of color, this book is of major importance to me. February 25th is dedicated to The Honorable Elijah Muhammad. He was truly a man of controversy. The founder of the Nation of Islam, his teaching was one of black nationalism. Whether one agrees with Minister Muhammad or not, he certainly was a man of importance. As the author states, the Minister was able to transform known criminals into men and women whose changed lives exemplified dignity and purpose. His death on February 25, 1975 was mourned by many. His teachings remain strong even to this day. Only a man of greatness would think to include such a man in his book in the rightful place that he belongs. I am eternally grateful to this giving writer.

I can't tell you about every single leader that he touches on. Please run to your book store and request that this book be placed on it's shelf. In the meantime, go to Amazon.com and purchase your copy. I implore you to support this mission of enlightment. This is how we can celebrate our history every day, every year! Daryl Grisby, I salute you! I say this with heartfelt gratitude. I say this with love. I say this as prayer!

"In Their Footsteps" is an inspiring book! It's encouraging to learn about people of color who have made a difference - it can be difficult to find those unsung heroes but Mr. Grisby has done it for us!

Even if you only have a small bit of time to read every day, you should take time to read this book. Why? First, it is most readable, and if you follow the author's suggestion, it is something that is probably best read in bits and pieces so you can absorb the stories and the messages that are portrayed throughout. It is a thoughtful, reflective, and beautifully written work that is a must read. The stories of those who influenced the course of black history are compelling and inspiring.

The faith, perseverance, and strength in the struggle Mr. Grigsby shows us in the lives of these leaders who have gone before us encourage us to do the same--to daily pick up the pieces of our lives and press on, to keep believing, and to know that one day we will accomplish our dream. I love this book!

I can't imagine anyone whose introduction to this book doesn't involve "thumbing through." It's a useful getting acquainted strategy that reveals a clean, clear format, striking artwork, and the occasional familiar name that converts browser to reader. That first, casual reading also reveals Daryl Grigsby's skill and talent as a writer and storyteller: "Submerged under the Paraiba River, the sculpture of the Virgin Mary had slowly darkened as sediment and mud collected over its smooth surface" (Oct. 12, Our Blessed Lady of Blackness) "The long day was near end, and none too soon, for tempers were short. Boston fishermen and common workers were antagonized by the British troops hovering around the local customs house." (Mar. 5, Crispus Attucks).

And we discover history within the history. The reflection for Sept. 14 focuses on Bishop Desmond Tutu preaching on transfiguration in the face of government brutality that led to the death of 25,000 individuals, mostly black South Africans. We read of Tutu again in an entry on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, created to help maintain peace when apartheid ended in 1996. Another such link comes into play with the entry for The Souls of Black Folk, written by W.E.B. DuBois and published in 1903. DuBois was instrumental in founding the NAACP, which is mentioned in several other entries. In addition, Grigsby tells us, the DuBois book inspired the search for authentic black identity by many, including Angela Davis, Stokley Carmichael, and Malcom X, all three profiled in "Footsteps."

Grigsby spent six years researching material for this book written to address "the relative absence of inspirational literature regarding the legacy of black spirituality." Many will use the book according to the calendar, as Grigsby suggests, and others, whether for personal or group study, will choose reflections from the index. Regardless of the approach, the encounter will be rewarding.

If not, stop whatever else you are doing and get a copy. "The Lamb among the Stars" series is simply some of the best fiction to come along in a while. Walley is a far, far better writer then MOST of the others who are attempting the Genre, and this particular work will stay with you for some time. If you are a parent, your teens will enjoy it as much as you, and give you both plenty to think and talk about. Highly, highly recommended.

Love Chris Walley's Lamb Among the Stars series. It's great science fiction, and wonderful Christian fiction. He takes time in the first book to let you get to know his characters and then the story continues to build from there. I have already recommended the series to others and will continue to do so.

Incredible. I almost feel that there is no point in reading any other sci-fi book after reading the epic brilliance of Chris Walley in "The Infinite Day." Reading any other book now would be like eating dry stale bread after a ten course meal. It is a shame so many other lesser books and authors are so shamlessly promoted and this epic classic seems to have had none at all. C.S.Lewis sci-fi does not even come close to this groundbreaking, epic, instant clasic. I was at times moved, shocked, affirmed, horrified, excited, anxious, satisfied, elated, triumphant, depressed, angry, disbelieving, challenged, convicted... need I say more (I could). The series was so unpredictable, creative, and exciting. Yet challenging and thought provoking. I think I will read the whole series all over again.

The final book in this series was not only well worth the wait....it shows the author's growth as a writer throughout the series. The first book was a slow read, but the profound concept of a sinless world once again having to battle evil made it worth the effort. The pacing picks up in the next and the theology deepens. The final book is a masterpiece of Christian fiction. The author balances multiple plot points, a host of believable characters, and never loses the reader's interest. The battle against evil occurs on many fronts...there's a real enemy to be fought externally but it must be done in community and within each individual human heart. It's beautifully done. Add to that mix the dimensionality of heaven and hell and probably the most
satisfying ending in modern fiction....wow.
Well done, Mr. Walley! May the REAL force be with you!

The Infinite Day is the concluding book in the Lamb Among the Stars series by Chris Walley. The book brilliantly finishes the adventures of Merral D'Avanos and his friends as they battle the return of evil to the universe. Chris Walley is adept at combining science fiction with Christianity. While the Christian worldview is mostly Protestant, as an Eastern Orthodox Christian I found much that resonated with me about how God is and how much He loves us. The Assembly was a wonderful preview of how the Kingdom of God may be acted out. And Jorgio is very much a "fool for Christ." While the book deals with the evil one and his minions, the story is more about how the characters battle the growing evil and corruption within themselves, how they throw that off, and how they continue to struggle to be like Christ. The ending had definite C.S. Lewis overtones--resembling the ending in The Last Battle (Narnia)--where all is revealed and beyond imagining. It was thrilling and brought tears to my eyes. If you enjoy a good tale about the triumph of good over evil with characters that will touch your soul and heart, this series is for you. And it's superb science fiction, too! Highly recommended.